An eighth-grade student's incredible response to "What is BMI?” is going viral.

"BMI is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI is moderately correlated with more direct measures of body fat."

]]>Julie Gersteinhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerstein/an-8th-grade-girl-just-totally-explained-why-body-mass-indexMon, 04 Apr 2016 16:41:59 -0400BMI says what?juliegersteinnonadultnonadultnonadult"BMI is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI is moderately correlated with more direct measures of body fat."nonadultnonadultAs NPR's <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106268439">Keith Devlin explains</a>, "It makes no allowance for the relative proportions of bone, muscle and fat in the body. But bone is denser than muscle and twice as dense as fat, so a person with strong bones, good muscle tone and low fat will have a high BMI. Thus, athletes and fit, health-conscious movie stars who work out a lot tend to find themselves classified as overweight or even obese."nonadultnonadult<blockquote>BMI is an outdated way of defining normal weight, under weight, over weight, and obesity by taking one person's height divided by their weight. One of the formula's obvious flaws, explains Alan Aragon, the Men's Health Weight Loss Coach and nutritionist in California, is that it has absolutely no way of discriminating fat and muscle. So, let's say there is a fairly athletic woman who maintains a decent diet, she's five feet, six inches, and she weighs 190 pounds, but 80% of her body is muscle. That doesn't matter when calculating BMI! This woman's BMI would be 30.7, and she would be labeled obese. Does that make sense to you? Because it sure doesn't make sense to me.</blockquote>nonadultnonadultnonadult<blockquote>At the beginning of the year, I started having very bad thoughts when my body was brought into a conversation. I would wear four bras to try and cover up my back fat, and I would try to wrap ace bandages around my stomach so I would look skinnier.</blockquote>nonadultnonadult<blockquote>He did a couple tests and told me I was fine. He said though I'm a bit overweight, he's not going to worry about me based on how healthy I am. So this is where I don't calculate my BMI because my doctor, a man who went to college for eight years studying children's health, told me my height and weight are right on track. I am just beginning to love my body, like I should, and I'm not going to let some outdated calculator and a middle school gym teacher tell me I'm obese, because I'm not. My BMI is none of your concern because my body and BMI are perfect and beautiful just the way they are.</blockquote>nonadultnonadultnonadult"We encourage [our kids] to be the best people they can be," she told BuzzFeed. "We tell them to be proud of who they are. If they ever have insecurities about something they have no control over, we point out everything about them they should be embracing instead. We try to guide them toward their goals and help them make a game plan to reach them. They know they'll always have our full support."nonadultnonadult"These students already know where they fit in with everyone else," she told BuzzFeed. "They know what sizes the department stores keep downstairs and the ones they keep upstairs. This is like pouring salt in the wound. Especially for someone like my daughter who is bigger, but is strong, active, eats well, and has received a clean bill of health from her pediatrician."nonadultnonadultWhen Salads Hurt Your Soulhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/kanediep/when-you-cant-do-salads?utm_term=4ldqpia
I’m not a giraffe.

]]>Kane Diephttps://www.buzzfeed.com/kanediep/when-you-cant-do-saladsWed, 07 Oct 2015 18:01:03 -0400<b>I'm not a giraffe.</b>kanediepnonadultThis Is What Women With The Same BMI Look Like Side By Sidehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/this-is-what-different-women-with-the-same-bmi-look-like?utm_term=4ldqpia
Numbers can sometimes be deceiving.

Macey J. Foronda, Jon Premosch, and Kirsten King for BuzzFeed

The actual number is your weight in kilograms divided by your squared height in meters. BMI is often used as a screening tool for obesity — usually at the population level — but it's also a relatively quick and inexpensive way for doctors to assess your weight and your risk for certain metabolic diseases.

Plus, it doesn't directly measure body fat. So there's a lot of controversy around how useful it is to reduce a person's wellness to a single number.

And charts like these show that people with the same BMI can look entirely different.

]]>Lara Parkerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/this-is-what-different-women-with-the-same-bmi-look-likeTue, 06 Oct 2015 14:49:27 -0400Numbers can sometimes be deceiving.laraparkernonadultnonadultThe actual number is your weight in kilograms divided by your squared height in meters. BMI is often used as a screening tool for obesity — usually at the population level — but it's also a relatively quick and inexpensive way for doctors to assess your weight and your risk for certain metabolic diseases.nonadultPlus, it doesn't directly measure body fat. So there's a lot of controversy around how useful it is to reduce a person's wellness to a single number.nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultFor more information about BMI and what it means for you and your body, visit this <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/#Definition">website.</a>nonadultWhen You're On A Diet But You Love Food Too Muchhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/kanediep/when-youre-on-a-diet-but-you-love-food-too-much?utm_term=4ldqpia
Hey Phil, how’s the daughter?

]]>Kane Diephttps://www.buzzfeed.com/kanediep/when-youre-on-a-diet-but-you-love-food-too-muchSat, 03 Oct 2015 16:30:21 -0400Hey Phil, how's the daughter?kanediepnonadultWhat Is A Good Body?https://www.buzzfeed.com/rylanmilller/what-is-a-good-body?utm_term=4ldqpia
This is what happens when you ask a bunch of people to define a good body.

]]>Rylan Millerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/rylanmilller/what-is-a-good-bodyMon, 28 Sep 2015 22:11:06 -0400This is what happens when you ask a bunch of people to define a good body.rylanmillleradultI Asked A Bunch Of People To Define A Good Body And This Is What Happenedhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/hillarylevine/what-is-a-good-body?utm_term=4ldqpia
And more importantly, do I have a good body?

]]>Hillary Lauren Levinehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/hillarylevine/what-is-a-good-bodyMon, 28 Sep 2015 17:01:05 -0400And more importantly, do I have a good body?hillarylevinenonadultWhat Does BMI Look Like IRL?https://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanshalhoub/does-bmi-actually-matter?utm_term=4ldqpia
“If you can do it at your computer, it’s not going to show you if you’re actually healthy.”

BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a number calculated by your weight and height used to indicate whether a person may have health problems in the future. We gathered a bunch of people to talk about their BMI's and what the number means to them.

First, we asked three groups of people to arrange themselves from lowest BMI to highest BMI.

They started strategizing how to organize themselves.

Some of the guys even lifted up their shirts, and the girls felt each other's biceps to determine the order!

]]>Jordan Shalhoubhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanshalhoub/does-bmi-actually-matterFri, 11 Sep 2015 22:01:03 -0400"If you can do it at your computer, it's not going to show you if you're actually healthy."jordanshalhoubnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultFascinating Facts About Fathttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanimbrey/the-truth-about-bmi?utm_term=4ldqpia
Muscles=fat?

]]>Jordan Imbreyhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanimbrey/the-truth-about-bmiSun, 09 Aug 2015 13:01:07 -0400Muscles=fat?jordanimbreynonadultThis Chart Shows How People With The Same BMI Can Look Differenthttps://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerstein/this-chart-shows-that-people-with-the-same-bmi-can-look-insa?utm_term=4ldqpia
BMI ain’t nothin’ but a number?

BMI, or body mass index, is a way of determining your "body mass" based on how tall you are.

To find your BMI, you could use this equation:

]]>Julie Gersteinhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerstein/this-chart-shows-that-people-with-the-same-bmi-can-look-insaFri, 17 Jul 2015 15:50:56 -0400BMI ain't nothin' but a number?juliegersteinnonadultnonadultnonadultOr you could just use this <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html/">BMI calculator</a>.nonadultIf your BMI is below 18.5, you're considered underweight. Between 18.5–24.9, you're considered to have a normal or healthy weight. Between 25.0–29.9 is considered overweight, and 30 and above is considered obese.nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultAnd it certainly isn't a sign of your value as a person.nonadultSuper Thin Models Are Now Banned In Francehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerstein/france-just-banned-super-skinny-models?utm_term=4ldqpia
And violating the ban could result in jail time.

Women with a BMI of 18 or under are banned from modeling, and models will be required to carry medical certificates proving they're above the limit.

Israel has a similar ban, while Spain and Italy have issued "voluntary codes of conduct."

]]>Julie Gersteinhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerstein/france-just-banned-super-skinny-modelsFri, 03 Apr 2015 18:11:59 -0400<b>And violating the ban could result in jail time.</b>juliegersteinnonadultnonadultThe healthy BMI range is considered 18.5 to 25.nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult“This is an important message to young women who see these models as an aesthetic example," <a href="http://time.com/3770696/france-banned-ultra-thin-models/">she said.</a>nonadultTexas Hospital Stops Hiring Overweight Peoplehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/annanorth/texas-hospital-stops-hiring-overweight-people
The policy prohibits hiring people with a high BMI — and it’s legal.

The "Texas Tribune" reports that Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, Texas won't hire anyone with a BMI above 35. CEO David Brown offers an odd explanation: "The majority of our patients are over 65, and they have expectations that cannot be ignored in terms of personal appearance." So, old people don't like fat people? Even if this were true, it doesn't seem to have much bearing on actual medical care.

The policy is apparently legal — Texas has no laws prohibiting weight discrimination in hiring (in fact, only the state of Michigan and six U.S. cities do). But criticism is unsurprisingly flying. Suzanne Lucas of CBS points out that the hospital could still get in legal trouble if anyone can show that its BMI requirements have "a disproportionate impact on a particular group" (she mentions African-American women, who tend to have higher BMI than the national average). She also is surely not alone in thinking the policy is bad PR: "Now if you Google 'Victoria Hospital Texas,' three references to the obesity policy show up on the the first page of hits. Is that what you want prospective patients, donors, and employees to know about you? Probably not."

But Citizens Medical Center isn't the first — or even most high profile — company to get involved in employees' weight. In 2010, Whole Foods instituted the Team Member Healthy Discount Program, which offered higher employee discounts to those with lower BMIs. The program drew a lot of criticism at the time — one customer told the "New York Daily News," "This is really stupid. They are judging people on how they look."

]]>Anna Northhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/annanorth/texas-hospital-stops-hiring-overweight-peopleWed, 04 Apr 2012 12:39:50 -0400<b>The policy prohibits hiring people with a high BMI &mdash; and it&#39;s legal.</b>annanorthnonadultThe "Texas Tribune" <a href="http://www.texastribune.org/texas-health-resources/health-reform-and-texas/victoria-hospital-wont-hire-very-obese-workers/">reports</a> that Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, Texas won&#39;t hire anyone with a BMI above 35. CEO David Brown offers an odd explanation: "The majority of our patients are over 65, and they have expectations that cannot be ignored in terms of personal appearance." So, old people don&#39;t like fat people? Even if this were true, it doesn&#39;t seem to have much bearing on actual medical care.nonadultnonadultThe policy is apparently legal &mdash; Texas has no laws prohibiting weight discrimination in hiring (in fact, only the state of Michigan and six U.S. cities do). But criticism is unsurprisingly flying. Suzanne Lucas of <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57407790/is-it-okay-to-discriminate-against-obese-people/">CBS</a> points out that the hospital could still get in legal trouble if anyone can show that its BMI requirements have "a disproportionate impact on a particular group" (she mentions African-American women, who tend to have <a href="http://www.womenshealth.gov/minority-health/african-americans/obesity.cfm">higher BMI</a> than the national average). She also is surely not alone in thinking the policy is bad PR: "Now if you Google &#39;Victoria Hospital Texas,&#39; three references to the obesity policy show up on the the first page of hits. Is that what you want prospective patients, donors, and employees to know about you? Probably not."nonadultBut Citizens Medical Center isn&#39;t the first &mdash; or even most high profile &mdash; company to get involved in employees&#39; weight. In 2010, Whole Foods instituted the <a href="http://jezebel.com/5456561/weigh-less-pay-less-whole-foods-offers-discount-based-on-bmi">Team Member Healthy Discount Program</a>, which offered higher employee discounts to those with lower BMIs. The program drew a <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-01-26/entertainment/29436953_1_discounts-free-health-screenings-chelsea-store">lot</a> of <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/20100127/gramercy-flatiron-union-square/are-you-slim-enough-for-whole-foods-discounts-get-your-bmi-score-here">criticism</a> at the time &mdash; one customer told the "New York Daily News," "This is really stupid. They are judging people on how they look."nonadultnonadultBut while the controversy appears to have died down, the program remains in place. According to the company&#39;s 2011 <a href="www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/pdfs/ar11.pdf">annual report</a>, "In fiscal year 2011, approximately 15,000 team members participated in biometric screenings, with nearly 8,300 receiving higher-level discount cards compared to approximately 7,000 team members at the end of fiscal year 2010." And a representative for the company confirmed to me that the program is ongoing as of this year.nonadultMeanwhile, the BMI controversy no longer shows up on the first page of Google hits for Whole Foods (though a Slate story called, <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2006/03/is_whole_foods_wholesome.html">"The Dark Secrets of Whole Foods"</a> does), or on the company&#39;s Wikipedia page. Insofar as the BMI discount was bad PR for the company, they appear to have outrun it, at least for now.nonadultBut Citizens Medical may run into a different problem. Though the hospital&#39;s CEO boldly states the regulation is about "appearance," he&#39;d probably still run into trouble if he tried to pass it off as a way to monitor employee health. CBS&#39;s Lucas points out that "BMI is actually a poor predictor of health." Indeed, Whole Foods admitted as much in a "Healthy Heart" <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CCUQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wholefoodsmarket.com%2Fpdfs%2Fbegood-0212.pdf&amp;ei=5U98T9e2J8H00gHso9TSCw&amp;usg=AFQjCNH29uPdydsM0K9JzWQiUVQI2-1uuA">newsletter</a> released in February: "Studies show that fat around the belly (abdominal fat) may be more of an indicator of heart disease risk than weight or BMI."nonadultAnd a study released just this week found that BMI fails to accurately measure body fat. Study co-author Eric Braverman told <a href="http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/03/11007637-the-surprising-new-face-of-obesity">NBC</a>, "BMI doesn&#39;t tell you how much fat &hellip; you have. So without knowing how much fat you have, you can&#39;t really save people from illness." Since Citizens Medical is in the business of keeping people healthy, they ought to know that the connection between BMI and health is looking increasingly tenuous.nonadult